CLINICO– EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF ROAD TRAFFIC INCIDENTS ADMITTED AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN GARHWAL- UTTARAKHAND

Abstract

The magnitude of Road traffic incidents and fatalities in India is alarming. In 2009, 4.22 lakh road traffic incidents and 1.27 lakh road traffic fatalities were reported. These numbers translate into one road accident every minute and one road accident death every four minutes METHODS: The study (based on Jorgensen and Abane model, 1999) was conducted over a period of one year during April 2011 to March 2012, among 136 victims (including 33 drivers) of road traffic incidents coming to Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali government medical college, Srinagar, Garhwal. RESULTS: 136 victims including 33 drivers were interviewed who were brought to the causality in the aforesaid period. 23 people were brought dead. There is clustering of cases from the month of August to October when compared to other months of year. 40% of drivers were drunk/or using some other substance at the time of accident. Only 12.1% of drivers were using seat belts at the time of accident. 57.6% were having driving license and 54.5% were either refractive error or hearing impairment or both. Human error, High speed, Lack of sleep, effect of Alcohol and mechanical fault of vehicle were reasons of accident as told by the drivers